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Kevin Ware's doctor: Publicity makes injury 'unusual'

The morning after suffering one of the most gruesome injuries in televised sports history, Louisville Cardinals' sophomore guard Kevin Ware was moving around on crutches in his Indianapolis hospital room.

INDIANAPOLIS, In. -- The morning after suffering one of the most gruesome injuries in televised sports history, Louisville Cardinals sophomore guard Kevin Ware was moving around on crutches in his Indianapolis hospital room.

Ware had successful surgery on his fractured tibia Monday; barring any setbacks, Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said, they expect him to come home from the hospital on Tuesday.

The team brought the Midwest Regional trophy to Ware's bedside Sunday night as he recovered from the broken right leg suffered in the first half of Louisville's 85-63 win over Duke.

In a conference call Monday, Pitino said Ware was excited that he brought the Midwest regional trophy to the hospital. Pitino asked Ware if he should bring it back (to the team).

"It's staying with me," Ware told him.

Meanwhile, Ware's mother, Lisa Junior and his step-dad rushed from their Conyers, GA home to be with Kevin on Monday.

She described how helpless she felt watching his injury on TV.

"As a mom, we're use to fixing everything for our kids, and the fact that I couldn't fix, let alone be there, was more of the issue with me. I was just devastated because I couldn't look at him or speak to him right then and there to see if he was okay," she said.

Back in Conyers, Georgia Kevin's sisters, 24-year-old Brittney and 18-year-old Khadijah Ware, told 11 Alive News they were watching the game together and didn't realize what had happened until they saw the gruesome replay.

"We just panicked and started crying and called my Mom and Dad," Brittney said.

While their parents flew to be with their brother in Indianapolis, the sisters said their brother comforted them over the phone.

"He just said he was gonna do good and he'll be alright, so stop worrying about him," Brittney added.

Jerrid Harris, Athletic Director at Rockdale County High School in Conyers told 11 Alive he also saw the horrible accident on TV.

"Our stomach just sank because you don't want that to happen to anybody, but especially someone you know and someone as wonderful a person as Kevin is," Harris said.

Both Harris and the family believe the young player will manage to recover and play again.

"He has an incredible will power; there is no quit in that kid," Harris said.

His sisters have been overwhelmed by the support Kevin is getting from all over the country.

"It's awesome, all of this love that he's getting and the recognition, 'cause he's been a great basketball player for years," sister Brittney told 11 Alive.